Lacquer enamel



Patented Apr. 26, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,115,020 momma ENAMEL Richard Karl Haven, Montclair, N. 1., assignor to Egyptian Lacquer Manufacturing Company, a corporation oi New Jersey No Drawing. Application August 12, 1 938,

, Serial No. 95,634

50laims.

This invention relates to lacquer enamels and particularly to lacquer enamels containing nitrostarch. More specifically the invention contemplates nitrostarch lacquer enamels that may be applied by spraying and that will dry to form a serviceable usable film when exposed to air at atmospheric temperature for a relatively short time.

It is convenient to apply enamels by spraying, but in order to do so, theviscosity of the enamel must be comparatively low, say frm60 to 110 centipoises. In the heretofore customary art it has been impossible to produce a lacquer enamel of spraying viscosity which would contain more than about 17% to 20% of non-volatile constituents. Lacquer enamels containing such a low proportion of non-volatile constituents tend toward high enameling costs. The lower the nonvolatile content in the lacquer enamel, the higher is its content of solvent or solvent mixture. The solvent or solvent mixture is seldom if ever recovered and is lost by evaporation into the atmosphere. Consequently, the lower the proportion of non-volatile constituents in the lacquer enamel, the greater is the loss of solvent or solvent mixture in forming a dry film of given thickness or weight. Moreover, a lacquer enamel containing only 17% to 20% of non-volatile ingredients" ordinarily will not form a film of sufllcient thickness from one spray coat. Two or more spray applications usually are required to form a fllm of suitable thickness when such an enamel is employed. Additional spray applications increase enameling costs by increasing labor and solvent loss, by requiring additional storage space for drying the enameled articles between spray applications and by increasing the amount of capital invested in material in process of manutacture.

As a result of my investigations I have succeeded in producing fast-:drying lacquer enamels of spraying viscosity which contain at least 30% by weight of non-volatile ingredients or about double the proportion of non-volatile ingredients in the lacquer enamels oi spraying viscosity in (CI. Rik-79] the heretofore customary art. Moreover, the lacquer enamels of my invention dry quickly under ordinary atmospheric conditions to form adherent smooth films.

When the improved lacquer enamels of my in- 5 vention contain a solvent mixture and non-volatile ingredients including a pigment, nitrostarch and a resin with or without softeners and plasticizers, the amount of nitrostarch in the lacquer enamel ranges from 40 to 55% by weight of the i0 non-volatile ingredients present, and the sum of the softeners, resins and plasticizers present is from 70 to 100% of the weight of the nitrostarch. Without exceeding spraying viscosity lacquer enamels of this character may be made containing at least 35% of non-volatile ingredients, and in most instances will contain as high as 50% by weight of non-volatile matter without exceeding spraying viscosity, say 60 to 110 centipoises at 25 C.

However, I have found that it is also possible to produce satisiactory nitrostarch lacquer enamels'which will dry rapidly in air at room temperature and which contain pigment, nitrostarch, and plasticizer or softener, or both, but without substantial amounts of resin. When the resin content of nitrostarch enamels capable of air drying, is either very low or absent, the nitrostarch content of the lacquer enamel should range from 55 to 65% by weight or the nonvolatile ingredients and the sum. of plasticizer and softener present should be from 30 to 40% by weight of the nitrostarch. A lacquer enamel oi this character should not contain more than about by'weight of non-volatile ingredients 35 (and preferably between 30 and 35%) if it is to be applied by spraying.

Throughout the specification and the appended claims I use the term "non-volatile ingredient to, describe those constituents of the lacquer 40 enamel such as pigments, nitrostarch, plastii ciz ers', 'solteners and resins which remain after the solvent or solvent mixture has evaporated at temperatures not to exceed about 70 C., and form the dried film.

The term "solvent" is used here to mean a readily volatile liquid which will dissolve nitrostarch or a resin, or both, and which will evapphate and triacetin.

orate from a lacquer enamel film at room temperature, leaving the non-volatile ingredients in the form of a continuous uniform film.

The term solvent mixture is used to include true solvents for nitrostarch or for a resin or for both, with or without liquid diluents and latent solvents which by themselves will not dissolve nitrostarch or a resin, but when added in limited amount to a solution of nitrostarch or of resin or of both will dilute the solution without causing precipitation of the nitrostarch or the resin.

I use the term plasticizer to describe those ingredients in enamels or lacquer enamels which are true solvents for nitrostarch and which are added to impart flexibility and overcome brittleness in the final dried film. The plasticizer remains in the dried film but does not itself have film forming characteristics. Examples of such plasticizers are dibutyl phthalate, tricresyl phos- As.used here the term "plasticizer" does not include such substances as castor oil and blown Chinawood oil, which remain in dried films, imparting flexibility thereto and overcoming brittleness therein, but which are not true solvents for nitrostarch. Such substances are classified herein as "softeners".

The term "resin" as used here, defines those amorphous substances, both natural and artificial, which have inherent film forming characteristics and are exemplified by dammar gum,

copal, ester gum, oil-acid modified alkyd resins,

shellac, hydrogenated or unhydrogenated alkyl character has a low viscosity characteristic and is particularly suitable in lacquer enamels, i. e. in coating compositions which contain pigments and which form a dry film due to evaporationof a volatile ingredient instead of by chemical action such as the oxidation which causes film formation in the case of paints, etc.

I have found that there are certain ingredients and certain amounts and proportions of these ingredients which must be maintained in order to manufacture satisfactory quick-drying nitrostarch lacquer enamels. The amounts and proportions of the ingredients and in some cases the nature of the ingredients, are entirely different from those which assure satisfactory character of clear nitrostarch lacquers, such as furniture lacquers, described in the co-pending application Serial No. 87,329, filed June 26, 1936, by Arthur H. White, and are also entirely diflerent from those which result in satisfactory baking" .should be nitrostarch. Moreover, the combined weight of the resin, the plasticizer and the sofingredients in the enamel.

tenor in the enamel should be from 70 to 100% of the weight of the nitrostarch present.

If a black pigment is incorporated into the enamel it is preferable that its amount be from 6 to 12% by weight of the total non-volatile Moreover, if a black pigment is employed, the nitrostarch present should preferably amount to iroin to of the weight of the non-volatile ingredients and the combined weight of resin, plasticizer and softener present should be about three-quarters of the weight of the nitrostarch. when black pigments are employed in the practice of my invention, and the foregoing instructions are followed an enamel capable of drying to a mat or dull film will be formed. Thefilm is hard and will acquire a high degree of lustre when rubbed.

If a pigment other than a black pigment is used, its amount should range from about 12% to about 26% of the weight of the non-volatile ingredients present. In such case, nitrostarch preferably should be employed in amounts ranging from 40 to 50% by weight of the non-volatile ingredients,and the combined weight of the resin, plasticizer and softener should range from about to about 100% by weight of the nitrostarch. Enamels made in accordance with these principles dry in the atmosphere to form adherent semiglossy" films which acquire high lustre after gentle rubbing.

Ordinarily the presence of a plasticizer or a softener in the enamels of my invention is .desirable. If, however, an enamel which will dry to form a film of high gloss without rubbing is desired, plasticizers and softeners may be omitted. Under these conditions, however, the resin employed should have a softening point ranging from 40 C. to 70 C. as determined by the ring and .ball method given in detail by Henry A. Gardner in "Physical and Chemical Examination of Paints, varnishes, lacquers and Colors, fifth edition, pages 501 to 504.

Briefly, this ball andring test is conducted as follows:

The resin or the like to be tested is melted and poured in to a brass ring laid on a plate. The ring should be poured full and the excess resin cut oil the top ring surface after the resin has cooled. The filled ring is taken as the sample.

'The ring should have an inside diameter at the temperature of the bath is thereafter raised uniformly at a rate of about 5 C. per minute.

A thermometer is placed in the bath. The softening point is taken as the temperature of the bath at the moment when the resin sample frees itself from the ringand falls to the bottom of the bath.

enamels containing resin but substantially no plasticizer or softener the nitrostarch content should range between 40 and 50% of the weight of the non-volatile ingredients and the resin content should range from 70 to 100% by weight of In the manufacture of high gloss nitrostarch the nitrostarch. Preferably the resin content should be about of the weight of the nitrostarch. a

It is also possible to make a satisfactory'nitrostarch semi- -gloss lacquer enamel containing resin without substantial amounts of softener or plasticizer. As in the of the high gloss lacquer enamel the nitrostarch content should amount to from 40 to 50% by weight of the non-volatile ingredients, and the resin content should range from 70 to 100% by weight of the nitrostarch. Preferably the resin content should Fonnm I Black enamel of mat finish be about 90% of the weight of the nitrostarch. Nonwolatile ingredients $5313? Examples of suitable resins are hydrogenated or Nitmstarch 13 2% nitrogen) I 52 8 unhydrogenated alkyl or aralkyl esters of abietic Sftener bmw1 China wood acid. R E Em n Lastly, it is possible to produce semi-glossy z i ggfifigi nitrostarch enamels which contain a plasticizer or a softener or both, without substantial quan- Total 100 0 titles of a resin. In such case, however, it is necessary to employ other proportions of in- Ratio of nitrostm-ch gredients. Thus the nitrostarch content should t t t range from 55 to 65% by weight of the nonbined ftene and Range Example volatile ingredients, and the combined weight resin 100 to 70400 100 o 76 of the plasticizers and softeners employed should Ratio f total range from 30 to 40% by weight of the nitrovolatile content'to starch. An enamel thus formulated, while satispigment content 100 to 12 100 to 7 factory for many purposes, is, not as satisfactory as one containing substantial amounts of resin. Percent by I have made extensive investigations of quicko e t mixture We t drying nitrostarch lacquer enamels, employing a Denatured ethyl alcohol 7 great variety of resins, plasticizers and softeners Ethyl acetate 10 in conjunction with nitrostarch. These inves- Butyl alcohol i 10 tigations indicate that such lacquer enamels do Butyl acetate i 30 not have satisfactory qualities if their respective T011101 43 formulae depart substantially from the following ranges: Total 100 Nnwstamh' Sum of resins plasti' percent by gsg gg Start? stirs ingredients nitrostarch Lacquer enamels containing nitrosturch I and substantial amounts of resin with or without a plasticizer or softener or both 40 to as 70 a we Sum of plasticizers and softeners, percent by weight of nitrostarch Lacquer enamels containing nitrostarch,

plestlcizer, or softener, or both, but little or no resin 55 to 65 30 to 46' Outside of these ranges the product does not Composition of enameLtotal nonform a satisfactoryfilm upon drying under atvolatile ingredient and total Percent by mospheric conditions. The film formed with lacsolvent mixture weight quer enamels outside these ranges tends to be Non-volatile ingredient 36.? too brittle or too tacky, so that on the one hand Solvent mixture 63.3 films are formed which have poor adhesion and which tend to check and peel, and on the other Total 100.0

hand films are formed which do not become usable in a reasonable time, if ever.

Within the ranges specified, however, satisfactory films may be formed by applying the lacquer enamel by spraying, and thereafter permitting the film to dry for a short period, say to 30 minutes, even when the lacquer enamel which is sprayed contains as much as 30% by weight of non-volatile ingredients and in some cases when the sum of the non-volatile ingredients amounts to as much as 55% by weight of the lacquer enamel as it is sprayed.

My invention will be more thoroughly understood in the light of the following formulae, which are examples of enamels made in accordance with the above enunciated rules. .In all the examples the non-volatile ingredients and the solvent mixture are set forth separately.

In the above and the following examples the composition of the combined non-volatile ingredients and of the combined solvent mixture first are given separately. Then the respective proportions of the combined non-volatile ingredients persecl pigment, the resin solution and the nitrostarch solution are then combined, thinned with any remaining proportion of the solvent mixture, and thoroughly mixed.

An enamel prepared in accordance with Formula I had a viscosity of '75 centipoises at 0., formed a coat of adequate thickness in a single spray application, dried in the atmosphere at room temperature in 15 minutes into a firm film of dull lustre which adhered. strongly to a steel sheet and which showed no signs of checking even after several weeks; The film was easily polished to a high degree of lustre by gentle rubbing.

The two formulae immediately following are examples of semi-glossy nltrostarch enamels of my invention containing a resin and at least one substance selected from the group consisting of plasticizers and softeners;

Composition of non-volatile ingredi Percent by .ents weight Nitrostarch (13.2% nitrogen) 43.2

Resinequal parts of ester gum and shellac 15.6 Softener-caster oil 9.1 Plastlcizer-dihutyl phthalate. 7.0 Pigment-whrome green dark 25.1

Total 100.0

Ratio of nitrostarch content to combined resin, pies-=- ticizer and soften- Range Example er content 100 to -100 100 to 73 Ratio of total nonvolatile content to pigment content 100 to 12- 26 100 to 25 Percent by Composition of solvent mixture weight Denatured ethyl alcohol 15 Ethyl acetate 5 Butyl alcohol 10 Butyl acetate 30 Toluol;

Total 100 Compsition of enamel, total nonvolatile ingredient and total Percent by solvent ture weight Non-volatile ingredient 48.7 Solvent mixture 51.3

Total 100.0

The enamel was prepared by dispersing the pigment in the mixed plasticizer and'softener, dissolving the nitrostarch and the resin separately in suitable portions of the solvents therefore, combining the dispersed pigment with the nitrostarch and resin solutions, adding the balance of the solvent mixture and thoroughly mixing the lot.

The enamel had a viscosity of centipoises at 25 C., was easily sprayed, formed a suiflciently thick coat in a single-application, and dried in the atmosphere at room temperature in 15 minutes to form a desirable adherent film.

Forearm III Semi-glossy green enamel Composition of non-volatile in- Percent by gredients weight Nitrostarch (13.2% nitrogen) 46.0 Plasticizer-dibutyl phthalate 14.0 Softener-blown Chinawood oil 14.0

Resinequal parts of ester gum and shellac 11.4 Pigment-chrome .green 14.6

Total 100.0

Ratio 01' nitrostarch content to combined resin, plasticizer and soiten- Range Example er contents to 70-100 100 to 86 Ratio 01 total nonvolatile content to pigment content- 100 to 12- 25. 100 to 15 Percent by Composition of solvent mixture weight Denatured ethyl alcohol 15 Ethyl acetate 5 Butyl alcohol Q. 10 Butyl acetate 30 Toluol 40 Total 10o Composition oi enamel, total nonvolatile ingredient and total sol- Percent by vent mixture weight Non-volatile ingredient 44.0 Solvent mixture 56.0

Total 100.0

This enamel was prepared in the same manner as that of Formula II. It had a viscosity of 75 centipoises at 25 C. It formed a coat of adequate thickness in a single spray application and manifested extraordinary adhesion when applied to surfaces of nickel, copper, brass, tin, iron, chromium, cadmium and glass. The film was firm and did not check or show other defects even after several weeks of indoor aging.

The following formula represents a satisfactory high gloss nitrostarch enamel containing a large proportion of resin:

FORMULA IV High olors green enamel Composition of non-volatile ingredi- Percent by ents weight Nitrostarch (13.2% nitrogen) 45.5 Resinunmodi fled phenol formaldeh-,y de 37.2 Plgment(chrome green) 17.3

Total 100 Ratio of nitrostarch content to resin Range Example content 100 to 70-100 100 to 82 Ratio 01' total nonvolatile content to pigment content" 100 to 12- 26 Percent by Foaum VI fiffifif f ffif $2 7 Composition of non-volatiie ingre- Percent by Ethyl t t dient weight alcohol o Nitrostarch (13.2% nitrogen) 59 Butyl acetate 25 Plasticizer-dibuty1 phthalate 20.5 Tomol 53 Pigment-iron oxide 20.5

100 Total 100.0 Composition of enamel, total non- Ratio oftmzmstarch volatile ingredients and total Percent by come solvent mixture weight bmed s o t i e r Non-volatile ingredients 47 and mast cizer Range, Example solvent mixture 53 content 100 to 30-40 100 to 35 Ratio of total nonvolatile content to Total 100 pigment content..- 100 to 12-26 100 to 20 This enamel had a viscosity 0! 75 centipoises 7 Percent by at 25 C. It sprayed we forming a thick, and desirable coat in a single application. It set to 3x333; gfi iq figg i weight a desirable firm and lustrous fllm in 95 hour. Ethyl acetate 5 The f rm l following represents 1 I". 5

a satisfactory. semi-glossy nitrostarch enamel Butfl acetaw 45 containing substantially no plasticizer or sof- T011101 38 tener:

Foauum V Total J 100 Composition of enamel, total nonsemi'flms 97m enamel volatile ingredient and total Percent by solvent mixture weight Composition of non-volatile ingre- Percent by Nomvolame ingredient 312 dlent welaht Solvent mixtu1 e saa Nitrostarch (Iii/2% nitrogen) 45.6 Resin-hydrogenated or unhydrogenated Total 100.0 .alkyl or arallryl esters of abietic acid,

"Hercolyn" 40.0 Enamel prepared according to this formula Pigment-chrome green 14,4 had a viscosity oi. 15 centipoises at 25 0., sprayed easily, and formed a satisfactory coat ,Total a 1004 in a single spray application.

The black lacquer enamels of my invention Ratio of nitrostarch are most satisfactory for spray application when content to resin Range Example 1 they contain about 35% of non-volatile ingredicontent 100 to 70-100 100 to 88 cats.

Ratio 0! total non- The semi-gloss lacquer enamel which convolatile contentto tains substantially no resin is most satisfactory i t t t 100 t 30.. 40 100 to 14 for spray application when it contains between V v 30 and 35% by weight of non-volatile ingredi- Percent by nts- Composition of solvent mixture weight The semi-gloss and high gloss nitrostarch lac- Denatured ethyl alcohol a quer enamels that contain appreciable quanti- Ethyl t mties of resin may be applied with a spray and Butyl alnnhnl 10 yield highly satisfactory results even when they nutyl meta. 30 contain from 40 to 50% by weight of non-vola- Toluol 32 tile ingredients, v

Hydrogenated p e t r o l e u m derivative The viscosity of this enamel was 75 centipoises at 25 C. It formed a satisfactory coat with a single spray application.

Formula VI, which follows, exemplifies a suitable composition of a semi-glossy nitrostarch enamel containing substantially no resin.

I claim:

1. A lacquer enamel having a viscosity of 60 to 110 centipoises at 25 C. and capable of drying at atmospheric temperatures to form a durable fllm, said lacquer enamel containing a solvent mixture and non-volatile ingredients comprising a pigment, nitrostarch and resin, the amount of nitrostarch present being from 40 to 55% by weight of the non-volatile ingredients,

the sum of resins, plasticizers and softeners present beingfrom '70 to 110% by weight of the nitrostarch, and the weight of the non-volatile ingredients .being from 30 to 55% of the total weight of the lacquer enamel.

2. A lacquer enamel of a color other than black having a viscosity of to 110 centipoises at 25 C. and capableof drying at atmospheric temperatures to form adurable film, said lacquer enamel containing a solvent mixture and non-volatile ingredients comprising a pigment,

nitrostarch and resin, the amount of nitrostarch present being from to by weight of the non-volatile ingredients, the sum of resins, plasticizers and solvents present being from 70 to 100% by weight of the nitrostarch, the weight of the pigment being from 12 to 26% by weight of the total lacquer enamel and the weight of the non-volatile ingredients being from 30 to oi the total weight of the lacable him, said lacquer enamel containing a solvent mixture and non-volatile ingredients comprising a pigment, nitrostarch and resin having a sol'tening point ranging from 40 to 70 C. as determined by the ball and ring method, the amount or nitrostarch present being from 40 to 55% by weight of the non-volatile ingredients, the sum of resin, plasticizers and softeners present being from 70 to 100% by weight oi. the

quer enamel. nitrostarch, and the weight of the non-volatile 10' 3. A black lacquer enamel capable of drying ingredients being at least 30% of the total in air to forms durable matt film and having weight of the lacquer enamel. a viscosity of to 110 centipoises at 25 -C., 5. A lacquer enamel having a viscosity 01' 60 said lacquer enamel containing a solvent mix-' to 110 centipoises and capable of drying at atture and non-volatile ingredients including a mospheric temperatures to form a durable film, 15 black pigment, nitrostarch and-resin, the pigsaid lacquer enamel containing a solvent mixment being present in amount equal to 8 to 12% ture and non-volatile ingredients comprising a of the total weight of the lacquer enamel, the --pigment, nitrostarch having nitrogen content of amount of nitrostarch present being from 50 to about 13.2% and resin, the amount of nitro- 55 of the weight of the non-volatile ingredistarch present being from 40 to 55% by weight 20 ents, the sum of resin, plasticizers and softeners of the non-volatile ingredients, the'sum of resin, present being from to 110% by weight of plasticizers and softeners present being from 70 the nitrostarch, and the non-volatile ingredito by weight of the nitrostarch and the ents present being atleast 30% by weight 01 the weight of the non-volatile ingredients being at total lacquer enamel. least 30% of the total weight of the lacquer 25 4. A lacquer enamel having a viscosity of 60 to centipoises at 25 C. and capable of drying at atmospheric temperatures to term a (lurenamel.

RICHARD KARL HAZEN.

Patent 110'. 2,115,020.;

RICHARD KARL HAZEN April 26, 1958.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numberedpatent requiring correction as follows: Page 5 second column,- line 7, Formula I, for the word "brown" read blown; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may-conform to the record of-"the case in-tne Patent Office.

Signed and s'ealedkthis lhth day of June, A. 1958.

Henry Van Ar sdale (Seal) ActingCommissioner of Patents.

nitrostarch and resin, the amount of nitrostarch present being from to by weight of the non-volatile ingredients, the sum of resins, plasticizers and solvents present being from 70 to 100% by weight of the nitrostarch, the weight of the pigment being from 12 to 26% by weight of the total lacquer enamel and the weight of the non-volatile ingredients being from 30 to oi the total weight of the lacable him, said lacquer enamel containing a solvent mixture and non-volatile ingredients comprising a pigment, nitrostarch and resin having a sol'tening point ranging from 40 to 70 C. as determined by the ball and ring method, the amount or nitrostarch present being from 40 to 55% by weight of the non-volatile ingredients, the sum of resin, plasticizers and softeners present being from 70 to 100% by weight oi. the

quer enamel. nitrostarch, and the weight of the non-volatile 10' 3. A black lacquer enamel capable of drying ingredients being at least 30% of the total in air to forms durable matt film and having weight of the lacquer enamel. a viscosity of to 110 centipoises at 25 -C., 5. A lacquer enamel having a viscosity 01' 60 said lacquer enamel containing a solvent mix-' to 110 centipoises and capable of drying at atture and non-volatile ingredients including a mospheric temperatures to form a durable film, 15 black pigment, nitrostarch and-resin, the pigsaid lacquer enamel containing a solvent mixment being present in amount equal to 8 to 12% ture and non-volatile ingredients comprising a of the total weight of the lacquer enamel, the --pigment, nitrostarch having nitrogen content of amount of nitrostarch present being from 50 to about 13.2% and resin, the amount of nitro- 55 of the weight of the non-volatile ingredistarch present being from 40 to 55% by weight 20 ents, the sum of resin, plasticizers and softeners of the non-volatile ingredients, the'sum of resin, present being from to 110% by weight of plasticizers and softeners present being from 70 the nitrostarch, and the non-volatile ingredito by weight of the nitrostarch and the ents present being atleast 30% by weight 01 the weight of the non-volatile ingredients being at total lacquer enamel. least 30% of the total weight of the lacquer 25 4. A lacquer enamel having a viscosity of 60 to centipoises at 25 C. and capable of drying at atmospheric temperatures to term a (lurenamel.

RICHARD KARL HAZEN.

Patent 110'. 2,115,020.;

RICHARD KARL HAZEN April 26, 1958.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numberedpatent requiring correction as follows: Page 5 second column,- line 7, Formula I, for the word "brown" read blown; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may-conform to the record of-"the case in-tne Patent Office.

Signed and s'ealedkthis lhth day of June, A. 1958.

Henry Van Ar sdale (Seal) ActingCommissioner of Patents. 

